Aqueous portion of Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss (Malpighiaceae): indication of gastroprotective and healing action of a medicinal plant from Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Byrsonima intermedia is a plant used in folk medicine as an antiulcer and healing agent. In the present work an aqueous portion (AcoAq) obtained from leaves of this species was investigated for its ability to prevent and heal gastric ulcer in vivo. The preventive and healing actions of the AcoAq were evaluated in experimental models in male Wistar rats (n=10) that simulated the disease in human gastric mucosa. The treatment significantly decreased the severity of gastric damage formation induced by absolute ethanol. AcoAq (100mg/kg, p.o.) presented effective gastroprotection (41.0±9.6mm) reducing ulcerative lesions when compared to control (147.0±5.7mm). This gastroprotective action was completely reversed by the nitric oxide inhibitor (99.86±10.5mm) or sulfhydryl blocker (166.1±24.7mm). AcoAq also showed effective healing action in chronic gastric disease after 14 days (100mg/kg, p.o.) by morphometric analysis and immunohistochemical evaluation (PCNA-cell proliferation), COX2 (cyclooxygenase-2), SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CXCR4 (angiogenesis). Morphometric analysis demonstrated increase in epithelial height of regenerated mucosa (µm) of AcoAq (958.1±34) when compared to the control group (741.4±16). Results of immunohistochemical analyses from PCNA presented intense cell proliferation and also increased expression of COX2, SOD and CXCR4 after 14 consecutive days of AcoAq treatment. The intense cellular proliferation by PCNA confirms the results of the morphometric analysis. Expression of COX2 and SOD and intense angiogenesis are involved in cellular healing of B. intermedia, indicating a cicatrizing effect of this medicinal species in addition to activation of nitric oxide and sulfhydryl compounds that exert great influence on the protection against these severe harmful agents.